A fost odat\u0103 un om \u015fi omul \u0103sta avea trei feciori. Pe cel mai mic dintre ei \u00eel porecliser\u0103 Prostil\u0103 \u015fi-l luau \u00een r\u00e2s \u015fi-l umpleau de oc\u0103ri ori de c\u00e2te ori aveau prilejul. \u00centr-o bun\u0103 zi, cel mai mare dintre fra\u0163i vru s\u0103 se duc\u0103 \u00een p\u0103dure s\u0103 taie lemne \u015fi, mai \u00eenainte de a pleca, maic\u0103-sa \u00eei puse-n traist\u0103 un cozonac bine rumenit \u015fi tare gustos \u015fi-o sticl\u0103 cu vin, ca s\u0103 aib\u0103 cu ce-\u015fi potoli foamea \u015fi setea. \u015ei de cum ajunse \u00een p\u0103dure, fl\u0103c\u0103ul nostru se \u015fi \u00eent\u00e2lni cu un omule\u0163 b\u0103tr\u00e2n \u015fi tare c\u0103runt. Dup\u0103 ce-i d\u0103du bine\u0163e, omule\u0163ul prinse a se ruga de el:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103i, b\u0103iete, d\u0103-mi \u015fi mie o bucat\u0103 din cozonacul t\u0103u \u015fi las\u0103-m\u0103 s\u0103 sorb o \u00eenghi\u0163itur\u0103 de vin, c\u0103 nu mai pot de foame \u015fi sete \u015fi m\u0103 simt sleit!<\/p>\n
Vezi \u00eens\u0103 c\u0103 fl\u0103c\u0103ul se \u0163inea c\u0103-i de\u015ftept \u015fi se r\u0103sti la omule\u0163:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 \u015ftii c\u0103 n-ai preten\u0163ii mari! P\u0103i dac\u0103 \u0163i-oi da din cozonacul \u015fi din vinul meu, mie ce-mi mai r\u0103m\u00e2ne? Vezi-\u0163i de drum \u015fi nu mai sup\u0103ra oamenii cer\u015find!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei l\u0103s\u00e2ndu-l \u00een plata Domnului pe omule\u0163, \u00ee\u015fi v\u0103zu de drum mai departe. Ajunse la locul cu pricina \u015fi se apuc\u0103 imediat de lucru. Dar \u00een timp ce se c\u0103znea s\u0103 doboare un copac, loviturile c\u0103deau anapoda; \u015fi, ca un f\u0103cut, \u00eei sc\u0103p\u0103 securea din m\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi nimeri cu t\u0103i\u015ful \u00een bra\u0163, de trebui s-o porneasc\u0103 din nou spre cas\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi lege rana. Vezi c\u0103 p\u0103t\u0103rania asta i se tr\u0103sese de la omule\u0163ul cel c\u0103runt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd fu s\u0103 plece \u00een p\u0103dure cel de-al doilea fecior, maic\u0103-sa \u00eei puse-n traist\u0103, ca \u015fi celuilalt, un cozonac gustos \u015fi-o sticl\u0103 cu vin. Omule\u0163ul cel b\u0103tr\u00e2n \u015fi c\u0103runt \u00eendat\u0103 \u00eei ie\u015fi \u00een cale \u015fi-i ceru \u015fi lui o bucat\u0103 de cozonac \u015fi o \u00eenghi\u0163itur\u0103 de vin. Dar mijlociul se r\u0103sti la el, ca \u015fi fratele s\u0103u mai mare:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, asta-i bun\u0103! P\u0103i dac\u0103 \u0163i-oi da \u015fi \u0163ie, n-o s\u0103-mi mai r\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103 nici pe-o m\u0103sea, a\u015fa c\u0103 vezi-\u0163i de drum \u015fi nu mai sup\u0103ra degeaba oamenii!<\/p>\n
\u015ei l\u0103s\u00e2ndu-l \u00een plata Domnului pe omule\u0163, nici c\u0103 se mai sinchisi de el \u015fi-\u015fi v\u0103zu de drum mai departe.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar pedeapsa nu \u00eent\u00e2rzie s\u0103 vin\u0103: dup\u0103 ce izbi de c\u00e2teva ori cu securea \u00een trunchiul unui copac, se v\u0103t\u0103m\u0103 a\u015fa de r\u0103u la un picior, c\u0103 trebui s\u0103 fie dus acas\u0103. V\u0103z\u00e2nd ce se \u00eent\u00e2mplase cu fra\u0163ii s\u0103i, Prostil\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi pusese \u00een g\u00e2nd s\u0103 \u00eencerce \u015fi el. \u015ei \u00eencepu a se ruga de taic\u0103-s\u0103u:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Taic\u0103, las\u0103-m\u0103 \u015fi pe mine o dat\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 duc \u00een p\u0103dure la t\u0103iat lemne!<\/p>\n
\u015ei taic\u0103-s\u0103u \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-ai v\u0103zut c\u00e2t au p\u0103timit fra\u0163ii t\u0103i de pe urma asta? Las\u0103-te p\u0103guba\u015f, b\u0103iete, c\u0103 n-ai tu cap pentru astfel de treburi!<\/p>\n
Dar Prostil\u0103 nu \u015fi nu, c\u0103 el vrea s\u0103 se duc\u0103. St\u0103rui at\u00e2ta, c\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103 taic\u0103-su trebui s\u0103 \u00eencuviin\u0163eze:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, atunci du-te! C\u0103 de c\u00e2te-i p\u0103timi, poate c-o s\u0103-\u0163i vin\u0103 \u015fi \u0163ie mintea la cap!<\/p>\n
Maic\u0103-sa \u00eei d\u0103du \u015fi lui un cozonac, dar vezi c\u0103 fusese pl\u0103m\u0103dit numai cu ap\u0103 \u015fi copt \u00een spuz\u0103! \u015ei-i mai puse-n traist\u0103 \u015fi-o sticl\u0103 cu bere \u00een\u0103crit\u0103\u2026 C\u00e2nd ajunse pr\u00e2slea \u00een p\u0103dure, se \u00eent\u00e2lni \u015fi el cu omule\u0163ul cel b\u0103tr\u00e2n \u015fi c\u0103runt. Dup\u0103 ce-i d\u0103du bine\u0163e, mo\u015fneagul prinse a se ruga de el:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103i, fl\u0103c\u0103ia\u015f, m\u0103i, d\u0103-mi \u015fi mie o bucat\u0103 din cozonacul t\u0103u \u015fi las\u0103-m\u0103 s\u0103 sorb o \u00eenghi\u0163itur\u0103 de vin din sticla ta, c\u0103 nu mai pot de foame \u015fi de sete!<\/p>\n
Prostil\u0103 lu\u0103 aminte la vorbele omule\u0163ului \u015fi-i r\u0103spunse cu bl\u00e2nde\u0163e:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mo\u015fnegelule drag\u0103, n-am \u00een traist\u0103 dec\u00e2t un cozonac copt \u00een spuz\u0103 \u015fi-o sticl\u0103 cu bere acr\u0103, da\u2019 daca-\u0163i sunt pe plac bucatele astea, n-ai dec\u00e2t s\u0103 te-a\u015fezi colea, l\u00e2ng\u0103 mine, s\u0103 ne osp\u0103t\u0103m \u00eempreun\u0103. Se a\u015fezar\u0103 ei pe iarb\u0103 \u015fi c\u00e2nd scoase Prostil\u0103 merindele din traist\u0103, o dat\u0103-mi f\u0103cu ni\u015fte ochi\u2026 \u015fi cum s\u0103 nu fac\u0103 dac\u0103 v\u0103zu dinainte-i un cozonac galben galben, de parc\u0103 ar fi fost pl\u0103m\u0103dit numai cu ou\u0103, \u015fi dac\u0103 b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 berea se preschimbase \u00een vinul cel mai de soi! M\u00e2ncar\u0103 ei \u015fi b\u0103ur\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce se s\u0103turar\u0103 \u015fi la sf\u00e2r\u015fit omule\u0163ul zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fiindc\u0103 mi-ai dovedit c\u0103 ai inim\u0103 bun\u0103 \u015fi din pu\u0163inul t\u0103u e\u015fti gata s\u0103 \u00eempar\u0163i bucuros cu al\u0163ii, s\u0103 \u015ftii c-am s\u0103 te fac fericit! Uite, vezi copacul cel b\u0103tr\u00e2n de colo? Apuc\u0103-te de doboar\u0103-l \u015fi vei g\u0103si ceva la r\u0103d\u0103cina lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Acestea zic\u00e2nd, omule\u0163ul \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 r\u0103mas bun \u015fi-\u015fi v\u0103zu de drum. Prostil\u0103 dobor\u00ee copacul \u015fi g\u0103si la r\u0103d\u0103cina lui o g\u00e2sc\u0103 cu penele numai \u015fi numai de aur. O lu\u0103 sub bra\u0163 \u015fi se \u00eendrept\u0103 spre hanul unde g\u00e2ndea s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie peste noapte. Hangiul avea trei fete, care, de \u00eendat\u0103 ce v\u0103zur\u0103 g\u00e2sca, nu-\u015fi mai aflar\u0103 locul de curioase ce erau. Ardeau de ner\u0103bdare voind s\u0103 afle c\u00e2t mai degrab\u0103 ce \u015fart are pas\u0103rea asta minunat\u0103 \u015fi de ce soi o fi. \u015ei ar fi dat tustrele orice numai s\u0103 se aleag\u0103 fiecare cu c\u00e2te-o pan\u0103 de aur!<\/p>\n
Fata cea mare privea la g\u00e2sc\u0103 cu jind \u015fi-\u015fi zicea \u00een sinea ei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Las\u2019 c\u0103 g\u0103sesc eu un prilej s\u0103 pot smulge o pan\u0103!” \u015ei c\u00e2nd Prostil\u0103 ie\u015fi afar\u0103 pentru o clip\u0103, fata \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 inima-n din\u0163i \u015fi apuc\u0103 g\u00e2sca de-o arip\u0103. Dar vezi, dr\u0103cie: degetele \u00eei r\u0103maser\u0103 prinse de pene!<\/p>\n
Pu\u0163in dup\u0103 aceea veni \u015fi cea mijlocie, cu g\u00e2ndul s\u0103 smulg\u0103 \u015fi ea o pan\u0103 de aur. Dar abia se atinse de soru-sa, c\u0103 \u015fi r\u0103mase ag\u0103\u0163at\u0103 de ea.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd o v\u0103zur\u0103 venind \u015fi pe cea de-a treia, care nutrea \u015fi ea acela\u015fi g\u00e2nd, cele dou\u0103 surori mai mari strigar\u0103 la ea:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te apropia, pentru numele Domnului, nu te apropia!<\/p>\n
Dar fata nu pricepu defel de ce-i tot strigau suro-rile ei s\u0103 nu se apropie de g\u00e2sc\u0103 \u015fi g\u00e2ndea \u00een sinea ei: “Dac\u0103 ele sau putut duce, de ce nu m-a\u015f duce \u015fi eu?” \u015fi se repezi spre g\u00e2sc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar abia o atinse pe una din surorile ei, c\u0103 \u015fi r\u0103mase ag\u0103\u0163at\u0103 de ea. Astfel, c\u00e2te\u015fitrele trebuir\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi petreac\u0103 noaptea al\u0103turi de zbur\u0103toarea cu pene de aur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi, Prostil\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 g\u00e2sca la subsuoar\u0103 \u015fi-o porni \u00eentins la drum, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 se sinchiseasc\u0103 de cele trei fete care erau ag\u0103\u0163ate de ea. \u015ei bietele fiice ale hangiului trebuia s-o \u0163in\u0103 tot \u00eentr-o fug\u0103 dup\u0103 Prostil\u0103, fie c-o lua la dreapta, fie c-o lua la st\u00e2nga, ori\u00eencotro \u00eel duceau picioarele\u2026 C\u00e2nd ajunser\u0103 \u00een mijlocul unei c\u00e2mpii, numai ce se \u00eent\u00e2lnir\u0103 c-un pop\u0103 care tocmai trecea \u015fi el pe acolo. Z\u0103rind popa o asemenea blestem\u0103\u0163ie, \u00eencepu s\u0103 strige ca din gur\u0103 de \u015farpe:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Necuviincioaselor, nu v\u0103 e ru\u015fine s\u0103 v\u0103 \u0163ine\u0163i scai dup\u0103 un fl\u0103c\u0103u? Oare se cuvine s\u0103 face\u0163i una ca asta?!<\/p>\n
\u015ei dup\u0103 ce le mu\u015ftrului \u00een lege, o apuc\u0103 pe cea mai mic\u0103 de m\u00e2n\u0103, cu g\u00e2ndul s-o opreasc\u0103. Dar de \u00eendat\u0103 ce-o atinse, r\u0103mase \u015fi el ag\u0103\u0163at \u015fi, de voie, de nevoie, trebui s\u0103 alerge \u015fi el \u00een r\u00e2nd cu c\u00e2te\u015fitrele. Merser\u0103 ei ce merser\u0103, dar nu prea mult, \u015fi iat\u0103 c\u0103-n calea lor se ivi dasc\u0103lul, care se minun\u0103 grozav c\u00e2nd \u00eel v\u0103zu pe pop\u0103 alerg\u00e2nd c\u00e2t \u00eel \u0163ineau picioarele \u00een urma a trei fete\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, p\u0103rinte, da\u2019 \u00eencotro gr\u0103be\u015fti a\u015fa tare?!, \u00eei strig\u0103 el. Nu cumva s\u0103 te iei cu altele \u015fi s\u0103 ui\u0163i c\u0103 mai avem azi un botez!<\/p>\n
Acestea zic\u00e2nd, se repezi la pop\u0103 \u015fi d\u0103du s\u0103-l trag\u0103 de m\u00e2nec\u0103, dar r\u0103mase \u015fi el ag\u0103\u0163at\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum alergau ei a\u015fa to\u0163i cinci, ag\u0103\u0163a\u0163i unul de altul de parc\u0103 ar fi fost \u00een\u015fira\u0163i pe-o sfoar\u0103, numai ce le trecur\u0103 pe dinainte doi \u0163\u0103rani, care veneau de pe c\u00e2mp, cu sapele pe umeri. Popa \u00eei strig\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 de departe, rug\u00e2ndu-i s\u0103-i scape pe el \u015fi pe dasc\u0103l de pacostea asta. Dar de-ndat\u0103 ce-l atinser\u0103 \u0163\u0103ranii pe dasc\u0103l, r\u0103maser\u0103 \u015fi ei ag\u0103\u0163a\u0163i. Ei, comedie mare; \u015fapte in\u015fi se \u00een\u015firau acum dup\u0103 Prostil\u0103, care zorea cu g\u00e2sca la subsuoar\u0103! Merser\u0103 ei ce mai merser\u0103 \u015fi-ntr-un sf\u00e2r\u015fit ajunser\u0103 \u00eentr-o cetate mare, unde domnea un \u00eemp\u0103rat care avea o fiic\u0103, numai bun\u0103 de m\u0103ritat. \u015ei era fiica \u00eemp\u0103ratului at\u00e2t de sanchie \u015fi de ursuz\u0103 din fire, c\u0103 nimeni p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci n-o putuse face s\u0103 r\u00e2d\u0103. Din aceast\u0103 pricin\u0103, \u00eemp\u0103ratul d\u0103duse o pravil\u0103 \u00een care sta scris c\u0103 acela care o va face pe domni\u0163\u0103 s\u0103 r\u00e2d\u0103 o va lua de nevast\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Auzind acestea, Prostil\u0103 se \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 \u00eenaintea fetei, cu g\u00e2sca la subsuoar\u0103 \u015fi cu tot alaiul cel n\u0103stru\u015fnic dup\u0103 el. \u015ei c\u00e2nd \u00eei v\u0103zu domni\u0163a pe to\u0163i \u015fapte alerg\u00e2nd \u00een urma lui Prostil\u0103, de parc\u0103 ar fi fost \u00een\u015fira\u0163i pe-o sfoar\u0103, o dat\u0103 izbucni \u00eentr-un hohot de r\u00e2s \u015fi cu at\u00e2ta poft\u0103 r\u00e2se, c\u0103 nu-i mai fu chip s\u0103 se opreasc\u0103. \u015ei dac\u0103 v\u0103zu Prostil\u0103 c\u0103 \u00eemplinise porunca \u00eemp\u0103ratului, cutez\u0103 s\u0103-i cear\u0103 fata de nevast\u0103, precum sta scris \u00een pravil\u0103. Numai c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratului nu prea \u00eei era pe plac ginerele \u015fi n\u0103scocea fel \u015fi fel de chichi\u0163e ca s\u0103 scape de el. P\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103 \u00eei zise c\u0103 i-o va da de nevast\u0103 pe fie-sa numai atunci c\u00e2nd i-o aduce pe cineva care s\u0103 fie \u00een stare s\u0103 bea tot vinul care ar \u00eenc\u0103pea \u00eentr-o pivni\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Prostil\u0103 se g\u00e2ndi c\u0103 numai omule\u0163ul cel c\u0103runt din p\u0103dure i-ar putea veni \u00een ajutor cu-n sfat de folos. Porni deci \u00eentr-acolo \u015fi c\u00e2nd ajunse z\u0103ri un om care \u015fedea jos, taman pe locul unde dobor\u00e2se copacul, \u015fi p\u0103rea s\u0103 fie tare am\u0103r\u00e2t. Prostil\u0103 \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 ce tot are pe inim\u0103 de st\u0103 c\u0103tr\u0103nit \u015fi omul r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum a\u015f putea s\u0103 fiu altfel dac\u0103 m\u0103 chinuie\u015fte o amarnic\u0103 de sete \u015fi n-am cu ce-o stinge?! Iar de ap\u0103, c\u00e2t o fi ea de rece, nu m\u0103 pot atinge, c\u0103 nu-mi prie\u015fte defel! E drept ca adineauri am golit un butoi cu vin, dar ce \u00eenseamn\u0103 o pic\u0103tur\u0103 la setea care m\u0103 frige pe mine? E taman c\u00e2t o pic\u0103tur\u0103 de ap\u0103 pe o piatr\u0103 \u00eenfierb\u00e2ntat\u0103, z\u0103u a\u015fa!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 P\u0103i dac\u0103-i numai asta, atunci afl\u0103 c\u0103 mi-e \u00een putin\u0163\u0103 s\u0103-\u0163i ast\u00e2mp\u0103r setea, \u00eei zise Prostil\u0103. Hai, fr\u0103\u0163ioare, cu mine \u015fi o s\u0103 bei p\u00e2n\u0103 n-o s\u0103 mai po\u0163i!<\/p>\n
\u00cel duse apoi \u00een pivni\u0163a \u00eemp\u0103ratului \u015fi omul nostru se \u00eenfipse l\u00e2ng\u0103 butoaiele cele mari \u015fi, lu\u00e2ndu-le la r\u00e2nd, b\u0103u de stinse, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce \u00eencepur\u0103 a-l durea \u015falele, nu alta\u2026 Nici nu trecuse bine ziua \u015fi secase vinul din toate butoaiele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Prostil\u0103 se duse la curte \u015fi-i ceru din nou \u00eemp\u0103ratului s\u0103-i dea fata de nevast\u0103. Dar \u0163i-ai g\u0103sit s\u0103 i-o dea! \u015eedea c\u0103tr\u0103nit toat\u0103 vremea \u015fi nu se putea hot\u0103r\u00ee \u00een ruptul capului s\u0103-\u015fi m\u0103rite odrasla dup\u0103 un neispr\u0103vit ca \u0103sta, c\u0103ruia toat\u0103 lumea \u00eei zicea Prostil\u0103. \u015ei ca s\u0103 scape de el, \u00eel mai puse la o \u00eencercare. Cic\u0103 trebuia s\u0103 g\u0103seasc\u0103 un om care s\u0103 fie-n stare s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce un munte de p\u00e2ine\u2026 Prostil\u0103 nu st\u0103tu mult\u0103 vreme pe g\u00e2nduri, ci porni imediat la drum. C\u00e2nd ajunse \u00een p\u0103dure, \u00een acela\u015fi loc unde dobor\u00e2se copacul, z\u0103ri un om cu o mutr\u0103 tare nec\u0103jit\u0103, care-\u015fi tot str\u00e2ngea cureaua peste burt\u0103, v\u0103ic\u0103rindu-se \u00eentruna:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vai de m\u0103iculi\u0163a mea, am \u00eenfulecat un cuptor \u00eentreg de p\u00e2ine, da\u2019 ce-mi poate ajunge doar un cuptora\u015f c\u00e2nd sunt lihnit de foame?! Prin burt\u0103-mi fluier\u0103 v\u00e2ntul \u015fi trebuie s\u0103-mi str\u00e2ng tot mereu cureaua ca s\u0103 nu cad de-a-n picioarelea!<\/p>\n
Auzind acestea, Prostil\u0103 se bucur\u0103 tare mult \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u0103, frate-miu, hai de te scoal\u0103 \u015fi vino cu mine, c-o s\u0103-\u0163i dau s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nci p\u00e2n\u0103 te-i ghiftui!<\/p>\n
Ajunser\u0103 ei \u00een cetatea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasc\u0103 \u015fi ce s\u0103 vezi acolo: din f\u0103ina care fusese str\u00e2ns\u0103 \u00een \u00eentreaga \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163ie, \u00eemp\u0103ratul d\u0103duse porunc\u0103 s\u0103 se fac\u0103 un munte uria\u015f de p\u00e2ine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u0103dure\u0163ul cel h\u0103mesit de foame se a\u015fez\u0103 la poalele muntelui de p\u00e2ine \u015fi \u00eencepu s\u0103 \u00eenfulece din el, de parc\u0103 se b\u0103teau turcii la gura lui. \u00centr-o singur\u0103 zi n-avu ce alege din muntele de p\u00e2ine; \u015fi c\u00e2nd se l\u0103s\u0103 seara, nu mai r\u0103m\u0103sese din el nici m\u0103car o f\u0103r\u00e2mi\u0163\u0103\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu asta Prostil\u0103, \u00eei ceru pentru a treia oar\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103ratului s\u0103-i dea fata de nevast\u0103, dar acesta c\u0103ut\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 s\u0103 umble cu fof\u00e2rlica, doar-doar o sc\u0103pa de el.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei, \u00een cuvinte mieroase, \u00eel \u00eendemn\u0103 s\u0103-i aduc\u0103 la curte o corabie care s\u0103 fie a\u015fa de n\u0103zdr\u0103van\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t s\u0103 pluteasc\u0103 \u015fi pe ap\u0103, \u015fi pe uscat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u00e2nd te-oi vedea venind cu corabia la curtea palatului, \u00eei mai zise el, voind s\u0103 dea vorbelor un anume \u00een\u0163eles, s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 nu voi mai avea nici o pricin\u0103 de \u00eempotrivire \u015fi \u0163i-oi da fata de nevast\u0103, pe loc.<\/p>\n
Prostil\u0103 porni iar \u00een p\u0103dure spre locul cu pricina \u015fi aici \u00eel g\u0103si pe omule\u0163ul cel b\u0103tr\u00e2n \u015fi c\u0103runt pe care-l osp\u0103tase din pu\u0163inele lui bucate. \u015ei b\u0103tr\u00e2nul, ascult\u00e2ndu-i p\u0103sul, \u00eei gr\u0103i astfel:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Am m\u00e2ncat \u015fi am b\u0103ut \u015fi acu\u2019 o s\u0103-\u0163i dau \u015fi corabia! Acestea toate \u0163i s-au cuvenit pe drept, fiindc\u0103 n-am putut s\u0103-\u0163i uit bun\u0103tatea \u015fi mila pe care mi-ai ar\u0103tat-o la nevoie.<\/p>\n
\u015ei omule\u0163ul cel b\u0103tr\u00e2n \u015fi c\u0103runt \u00eei d\u0103rui corabia n\u0103zdr\u0103van\u0103, care, pas\u0103mite, plutea \u015fi pe ap\u0103, \u015fi pe uscat. \u00cen clipa c\u00e2nd Prostil\u0103 i-o aduse pe\u015fche\u015f \u00eemp\u0103ratului, acesta nu mai avu ce s\u0103 zic\u0103, vezi bine c\u0103 i se duseser\u0103 pe apa s\u00e2mbetei toate \u015firetlicurile\u2026 \u015fi-i d\u0103du fata de nevast\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei se f\u0103cu o nunt\u0103 ca-n pove\u015fti; iar dup\u0103 moartea \u00eemp\u0103ratului, Prostil\u0103 urc\u0103 \u00een scaunul domnesc \u015fi tr\u0103i \u00een fericire, p\u00e2n\u0103 la ad\u00e2nci b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163i, al\u0103turi de nevasta lui.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost odat\u0103 un om \u015fi omul \u0103sta avea trei feciori. Pe cel mai mic dintre ei \u00eel porecliser\u0103 Prostil\u0103 \u015fi-l luau \u00een r\u00e2s \u015fi-l umpleau de oc\u0103ri ori de … <\/p>\n